TD Bank to contribute $100,000 to Norristown Area Education Foundation

WEST NORRITON — TD Bank will present a $100,000 check to the Norristown Area Education Foundation at a ceremony on Friday that will be used to install and maintain new technology in the Norristown Area High School.

According to the district, the money has been earmarked to go towards the creation of a computer lab in the high school for Mac Computers that will be used by pre-engineering and graphic arts students. Additionally, the money will also “support additional SMART Board classroom technology in all Norristown Area School District classrooms,” according to information from the distric. The contribution is being made under Pennsylvania’s educational improvement tax credit program, which allows businesses to collect tax credits by contributing money to educational bodies.

Prior to the check presentation ceremony on Friday morning, representatives from the bank, along with members of NAEF and the Norristown Area School District, will tour three classrooms that already have SMART Boards in the high school, including two science classrooms and an art classroom that has the capabilities to provide digital design instruction.

According to the website for Smart Technologies, the company that makes SMART Boards, the devices are “interactive” white boards that combine “the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer” by working in a similar fashion to traditional whiteboards while also allowing a greater breadth of material to be utilized, including videos and PowerPoint presentations, through a computer connection.

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Geoffrey Brandon, the regional vice president for TD Bank, said that the bank has supported the district in the past and Friday’s contribution will be the first of a two-year commitment made to the NAEF as part of the tax credit program.

“TD Bank has been a longtime participant in Pennsylvania’s EITC program, and we plan to participate in the program beyond this commitment to NASD, for as long as we are approved by the state to do so,” Brandon explained in an email. “Supporting education is very important to TD and we are thrilled to be able to apply EITC tax credits to the project.”

According to Brandon, the bank has previously worked with the district and other community agencies to enhance the educational opportunities for students.

“In these tough economic times, school districts struggle to provide the important enrichment programs that critically enhance children’s educations,” he said in an email. “TD Bank works with several community partners, including Norristown Area School District, to provide educational programs, such as the bank’s annual Summer Reading Program, and volunteer support in the community.”

While Friday’s contribution is the first of two planned installments, Brandon is hopeful there will be many more contributions to come that will allow the district to continue to offer programs that otherwise it may not be able to afford.

“Through the EITC program, TD Bank hopes to help enable schools to provide enhancements such as the robotics, astronomy, and digital design programs NASD provides using EITC funds,” he explained in an email.